Enjoy These Top 20 “Honorable Mention” June Nelson Essays
“Tell a story that has helped shape you or reflects who you are today, and how that will move you into the future.”
That’s the writing prompt 178 student applicants responded to this year, the greatest number of June Nelson scholarship essay submissions AASB has ever received (previous record: 120).
While these 20 essays weren’t awarded scholarships, the judges felt they stood out. We present them here to give these talented students a shout-out for their honest, passionate writing and compelling storytelling.
For a captivating glimpse into the lives, challenges and dreams of young people from communities across Alaska, it’s well worth your time to give these short essays a read. (Average read time: 2-3 minutes per essay)
2017 June Nelson ‘Honorable Mention’ Essays
Click on student names to read their essays
Al Asuncion, Kodiak HS, Kodiak, Kodiak Island Borough SD
Braden Bowker, Colony HS, Wasilla, Matanuska-Susitna Borough SD
Ashlynn Burgess, Family Partnership Charter School, Anchorage, Anchorage SD
MiKayla Clark, Ninilchik School, Anchor Point, Kenai Peninsula Borough SD
Cameron Edwards, Ketchikan HS, Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway Borough SD
Victoria Franciosi, Valdez HS, Valdez, Valdez City Schools
Jayne Hanna, Nuniwarmiut School, Mekoryuk, Lower Kuskokwim SD
Megan Hoke, Kotzebue High School, Kotzebue, Northwest Arctic Borough SD
Celeste Jensen, West Valley HS, Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough SD
Madeline Kleinschmidt, Soldotna HS, Soldotna, Kenai Peninsula Borough SD
Emily Koziczkowski, Kenai Central HS, Kenai, Kenai Peninsula Borough SD
MacKenzie Lindeman, Kenai Central HS, Soldotna, Kenai Peninsula Borough SD
Vance Lindsey, Eagle River HS, Eagle River, Anchorage SD
Desiree Lynch, Unalaska City HS, Unalaska, Unalaska SD
Henrietta Nicholai, Kuskokwim Learning Academy, Atmaukluak, Lower Kuskokwim SD
Carter Price, Unalaska HS, Unalaska, Unalaska City SD
Hope Quinn, Seward HS, Seward, Kenai Peninsula SD
Aanisah Robinson, Bartlett HS, Anchorage, Anchorage SD
Kyle Wisdom, Eagle River HS, Eagle River, Anchorage SD
Zania Zldjn Oller, Unalaska City School, Unalaska, Unalaska City SD